Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff, the factional Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Thursday walked out of the party’s stakeholders meeting organised at the behest of former President Goodluck Jonathan.
Sheriff arrived late at the venue of the meeting a few minutes after Jonathan had delivered his remarks. He quickly held consultations with members of his faction and as soon he was briefed on what transpired before his arrival he walked out with members of his National Working Committee at about 4.15 p.m. He was angered by his non-recognition as the substantive chairman of the party in which case he would have been allowed to make an opening remark.
Some of the executive members with him at the meeting were the Deputy National Chairman, Dr Cairo Ojougboh and the Publicity Secretary, Mr Mikko Bernard.
Sheriff, addressing newsmen before leaving the venue of the meeting, expressed displeasure for not being allowed to make the opening remarks.
“We are here for PDP stakeholders meeting and the PDP has only one national chairman, which is Ali Modu Sheriff.
“There is no PDP meeting that will take place under whatever arrangement that will not open the session as national chairman;. Today, I’m the most senior member of this party.
He also said that he would not be party to anything outside the reconciliation report submitted to him by Gov. Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa.
“I think Governor Dickson made a proposal for reconciliation that we have accepted. Some people want to deviate from this programme, to bring agenda which was not part of it.
“As national chairman of the party, what I told you in my office when Dickson brought the report is the only thing that we have agreed to at this moment.
“I will not be party to anybody using me to do another programme. I’m not going to be part of it,” Sheriff said.
Asked about the way forward for the party, Sheriff said: “As the national Chairman of PDP, I will move on with the programmes initiated by Gov. Dickson.
“We are continuing with that; anything outside that, I’m not a party to.”
The meeting however continued after he stormed out of the venue.
Jonathan, speaking on the outcome of the meeting, regretted what happened during the meeting.
According to him, the issues will be addressed once the committee comes out with its own recommendations.
PDP members present include Chief Tom Ikimi, Prince Uche Secondus, Sen. Ahmed Makarfi, Chief Olisa Metuh, Ahaji Saminu Turaki, Sen. David Jang and Sen. Adolphus Wabara. Others were some PDP Governors, former Ministers, the BoT members and former governors, among others.
